All Saints students to perform ‘10 Ways to Survive Life in Quarantine’

By Andy Coughlan

Published
9:22 am CDT, Wednesday, April 29, 2020

William Low, a student at All Saints, is one of the featured performers in "How to Survive Life in Quarantine.'

William Low, a student at All Saints, is one of the featured performers in "How to Survive Life in Quarantine.'

Photo: Courtesy Photo

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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William Low, a student at All Saints, is one of the featured performers in "How to Survive Life in Quarantine.'

William Low, a student at All Saints, is one of the featured performers in "How to Survive Life in Quarantine.'

Photo: Courtesy Photo

All Saints students to perform ‘10 Ways to Survive Life in Quarantine’

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When All Saints Episcopal School closed its campus in response to the coronavirus pandemic, middle school drama teacher Ramona Young decided that what her students needed was a distraction. Meanwhile prolific playwright Don Zolidis was finishing a new work, “10 Ways to Survive Life in Quarantine.”

It was a match made in isolation.

“I knew my drama students would be looking for ways to pass the time,” Young said. “When I saw this show was going to be available it seemed like the perfect project. We held online auditions and I was delighted with how many students tried out.”

All Saints will stream its production via Facebook at 7 p.m. April 30.

The cast features 24 sixth to eighth graders. The students, who have been rehearsing daily, have turned their rooms into sets, as well as created their own props and costumes.

“It’s really important that the students are able to take ownership of the show,” Young said. “They have been their own set designers, lighting techs and cinematographers. In some ways, they are getting a fuller experience than if they were part of a traditional show — everyone is the star of their own production.”

Zolidis wrote the play in response to so many school productions being cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wanted to create something that could be fun, and diverting, and give people some joy during all of this,” he said. “I wrote the initial version of the script in about four days, and it was published a week or so afterwards, so this was a very quick turnaround for me.”

The play has proved to be quite popular, Zolidis said. More than 100 schools that have applied for rights, and it’s being performed in seven different countries.

More Information

‘10 Ways to Survive Life in Quaratine’

Who: All Saints Episcopal School

What: A new play by Don Zolidis

When: 7 p.m. April 30

Where: Streaming at Facebook.com/asesbmt/

Seventh grader Jack Lostak plays a character who creates a new “best friend” to talk to during the isolation.